Hard Pass (St. Louis Mavericks 3)

“Sam-Sam!” Reva got up and ran to her aunt. She had nicknames for almost everyone in the family, another thing that annoyed Sophia to no end.

My parents arrived a few minutes later, followed by my grandmother, aunt, and uncle, all on my father’s side. Sami carried a stack of bridal magazines with her, setting them on the living room table as we all exchanged greetings.

“I’ve found the perfect wedding dress!” she announced.

“Already?” I asked.

She nodded. “It’s sheer perfection. I can’t wait to show you.”

“After dinner,” Mom said, air-kissing me and then scooping Reva up off the floor.

“How’s Grandma’s girl?”

She carried her off as Sebastian gave me a grin. “How’s the job with the Mavericks?”

“It’s great,” I told him. Seb was a huge hockey fan, so he’d been the most excited of anyone when I’d gotten the job. “When do you want to come to a game?”

He shrugged. “Sami isn’t interested so I’m not sure.”

“I’ll go with you.” My father surprised me by coming to join us. “I like hockey.”

“You do?” I asked suspiciously. Since when? My dad watched a little football, but he was far more interested in European soccer.

“I love sports,” he said easily. “Just wasn’t a priority over the years. Now that I’m older, I’m enjoying life a little more. Going to a hockey game with my future son-in-law sounds like fun.”

“Let me know and I can get you tickets,” I murmured.

“Hockey is awful,” Sami said, wrinkling her nose. “All that fighting. Yuck.”

“It’s not all fighting,” I protested. “And anyway, the guys I’ve met have been really great. Helpful, polite, generally good guys.”

“Yeah, like that underwear model?” Sami snickered. “Does he parade around the office like that?”

I frowned. “Nash? Of course not. None of the guys parade around the office.” For some reason, hearing her mocking the team felt like a jab at my new job. It shouldn’t have bothered me, because this was nothing new, but it did.

“Is he as hot as he is in the pictures or is it all Photoshop?” she asked.

“He’s very handsome in person,” I admitted. “I don’t think they photoshopped much.”

“But is he nice?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes. “He’s always been polite the times I’ve met him, but I don’t really know him.”

“What underwear model?” Dad asked.

Sami smirked, pulling out her phone and typing something in. Then she turned it around to show our father. “This guy plays for the Mavericks. Can you believe it?”

“He probably makes a shit ton of money,” Seb said, glancing at the photo and shrugging. “I’d do it if someone wanted to pay me for pictures of me in my worn-out Fruit of the Loom boxers!”

“Over my dead body!” Sami said, laughing and nudging him with her shoulder. He nudged her back and they exchanged a long, sweet look that made me turn my attention to my dad.

“Anyway, if you want to go to a game, just let me know.”

“Thank you.” Dad put a gentle hand on my arm when they walked away. “Don’t listen to them. I’m very proud of you for getting such an amazing, high-profile job. Did you close the deal for the corporate box?”

I nodded. “I did.” Ironically, my somewhat old-fashioned Middle Eastern father was far more interested in my career than my mother or sisters.

“I knew it.” He grinned, his hazel eyes crinkling with pleasure.

“Thanks, Dad.” I smiled as my mother came into the room.

“You work with an underwear model? What nonsense is this?”

I sighed.

Dinner was long and arduous. I loved my family. I really did. I just didn’t understand this need to nitpick every aspect of my life, especially the personal parts. Mom had three dating prospects lined up, all vetted and waiting to hear from me. I gave her a firm no before retreating into the family room to play with Reva.

“Mom’s just trying to help,” Sophia said, following me with seven-month-old Thomas in her arms. She sank into a chair to feed him and eyed me curiously. “I understand you’re bitter about the breakup with Theo, but you need to get back out there.”

“I need to focus on my mental health, my career, and moving,” I corrected her gently. “I can’t be happy with someone else until I’m happy being on my own.”

“And you’re not happy on your own?”

“I’ve been working two jobs since the breakup to be able to afford the apartment he left me in. Once I move and pay off a little debt, then maybe I’ll be relaxed enough to think about dating.”

Sophia sighed but nodded. “I guess you know what’s best. Just don’t deprive yourself of finding someone wonderful because Theo was an ass.”

“I’ll try not to.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I was pleasantly surprised to see a message from Rob. We hadn’t talked much the last week, which was kind of weird, but he’d said his travel schedule was crazy.